Triathlon Blues

I read two things today about the Vineman Triathlon in Monte Rio that gave me pause (I had been thinking about signing up for that one--and soon, since it sells out quickly).

A woman died there a few years ago, during the swim portion of the 70.3 (half-Ironman).  I was planning to do the Olympic, not the 70.3; but still.  She was 50, and an experienced triathlete, with no preexisting heart condition as far as anyone knew.  According to what I read, she had not warmed up in the water before starting the swim portion of the race.

Reading about her death led me to read more about triathlons and deaths; there have been quite a few, around 53 total between 2007 and 2013, and most of them happened during the swim portion.  The shock of hitting cold water, then trying to swim as fast as you can--I experienced that a little bit in the Marin Triathlon.  The water wasn't even all that cold, maybe in the high 60s (I'm just guessing; it was far warmer than usual due to this year's El Nino conditions).  That's supposedly how warm the water is in the Russian River--or maybe it's even warmer in June, I don't really know.

At any rate, swimming in cold water (high 60s, while not as frigid as the Pacific Ocean, is still very cold), especially without warming up first, can be very dangerous, according to a few articles I read online this evening.

I didn't do a warm-up swim at the Marin Triathlon; nor did most of the swimmers participating as far as I could tell (although I didn't watch the competitors carefully before the race started, just was too focused on my own preparations).  After freezing and hyperventilating a bit during the swim, I can see very clearly why it would be important to warm up.  I don't understand why this isn't a requirement or at least, very strongly recommended at all triathlons.

Also, I read today that the Vineman has been taken over by Ironman, and at least one observer laments the fact, saying the marquee triathlon events are becoming too splashy, commercial and expensive, while the more modest, locally-run events that are much cheaper and user-friendly are being ignored by most triathletes, for no good reason:

http://www.outsideonline.com/2035616/rip-vineman-1990-2015

I am wondering, after reading these two articles, which triathlon I can pick that will have a low-key community feeling about it, not be too crowded, and not have absolutely frigid or otherwise terrible water conditions. The only two that come to mind are one of the HITS triathlons, or Marin.  I could also do one in San Diego or Hawaii, perhaps.

I'll have to do more research.

Above all, I want to remember:  the goal here is fitness, not fanaticism...I want to do a couple Olympic triathlons when I'm ready; but only when I'm good and ready.